Yes well the question is, would Judd have his job at Visy if he weren’t playing football for Carlton? If the answer to that question is “no”, then clearly the role relates to his playing position at Carlton, and the payment should be included in Carlton’s salary cap.

I wonder what his ambassador role involves? Explaining the benefits of cardboard boxes?

The Judd-Visy deal was a rort that Carlton got away with for 5 years. They did well to gain AFL approval in Judd’s first year and again 3 years ago when his first Visy contract expired. The AFL are scrutinising 3rd party arrangements more closely now and decided not to approve Judd’s new Visy contract outside the salary cap. The correct decision was made. Any similar arrangements with players at other clubs should also be treated the same, although I doubt many (if any) players would be earning $200-$250k p.a. for a part time ambassador role at a board member’s company. Perhaps Carlton can go back to the brown paper bags to overcome the AFL’s decision.

Also, simply because the AFL approved Judd’s first two Visy contracts doesn’t mean that they will approve it indefinitely each time it comes up for renewal. The AFL standards have been updated, similar to match rules being updated. What was allowed in the past doesn’t meet the new standard. Judd has an opportunity to show some leadership and reduce his $1m p.a. Carlton-Visy salary to allow teammates on much less money to earn a bit more. Who knows, there could be someone else on Carlton’s list who could be a better Visy ambassador – whatever that is.

I think Judd is lucky that Visy gave him time off to go to Arizona with the rest of the Carlton boys, however I am sure that he filled out a request form.
While it is not much fun to have the rules changed from season to season it apperas it should have been included from day one. It’s a bit like telling a few fibs on your tax return just because you get away with it once or twice don’t fall into the trap of taking the high ground.

This Visy deal should never have been approved. Anyone who believes that this was legitimate and wasn’t part of getting Judd to the club is being disingenuous. The rules should be quite simple; if players have deals with a business that has any ties to a club be it through sponsorship or their employees being board members of this club or anything else that resembles a relationship with the club, this deal should be considered part of the salary cap. It has to be this broad because it’s otherwise too easy for people to make handshake deals.